Anchorage

Pyla-sur-Mer

Shelter: NE, E, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage in the bassin d'Arcachon off the Pyla-sur-Mer beach, at the foot of the Dune du Pilat. Sand bottom, shelter from NE to SE winds.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the bassin d'Arcachon through the Passe Sud or Passe Nord, both requiring an up-to-date track as the channels shift with each winter storm. Strong tidal streams, up to 4 knots on springs. Stand off the beach in 3 to 5 m at low water to avoid the sand banks.

Practical

Forain anchorage on sand, good holding. No services on site, tender ashore to the beach. Exposed to westerly winds that blow straight off the Atlantic across the dune. Port de La Teste 2.6 NM east is the nearest harbour with diesel and berths.

Ashore

The Dune du Pilat rises directly behind the beach to 102 m, the tallest coastal sand dune in Europe. Wooden staircase access from the carpark 1 km south. Restaurants and bakeries along the Corniche of Pyla-sur-Mer within 500 m of the beach. The oyster huts of L'Herbe and Le Canon are across the bassin by tender.

History

The Dune du Pilat formed over the last 4 000 years as westerly winds pushed Atlantic sand inland. It advances east by 1 to 5 metres per year and was classified as a Grand Site de France in 1978.